Cinematograph projector for advertising and other purposes



. l G. GRIFFITHS CINEMATOGRAPH PROJECTOR FOR ADVERTISING AND OTHER PURPOSES F' iled Sept. 5, 1925 K V M CLIM Patented Nov. 23, 1926."

UNITED STATES PATENT ol-"rlcn.

jsmNnY' enonen enrrrrrns, or MARYLEBoNE, noNnoN, ENGLAND, AssIeNoR r0 UNITED INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION LIMITED, or LoNnoN, ENGLAND, A

BRITISH COMPANY.

CINEMATOGRAPH PROJECTOR FOR ADVERTISING AND OTHER PURPOSES.

Application filed September 5, 1925, Serial No. 54,650, and in Great Britain September 13, 19 24.

This invention has reference to cinemato-- graph projectors capable of being usedfor. advertising,- amusement, educational and.

other purposes, the projectors being of the kind comprising gearing capable of being operated by hand or a power motor'for intermittently .moving a film through a gate disposed between a suitable source oflight and-a projecting lens, the exposure of the successive picture or equivalent sections of the film being regulated by the usual rotary form of shutter arranged between the film and the projecting lens.

In known formsof projectors capable of being used with lengths or endless bands of film, each picture or equivalent section'is approximately square in shape having each side of about the same length, while a plurality of sprocket teeth openings, generally four, are formed in the opposite margins of the film for each of the said sections. Further, with picture or equivalent sections of this character there is considerable difficulty in obtainingequalillumination over the entire surface, each such section being illuminated to a greater intensity at the centre portion that at the side margins.

lccording to this inventiona compara- Lively long. and narrow and evenly illumi-' nated picture or its equivalent is capable of being exhibited on a suitable screen through the medium of a film provided with long narrow picture or equivalent sections of such a slze as to permit a plurality of 1ndividual sections occupying the same area as that occupied by a section as at present known and a projector comprising a long narrow aperture corresponding with the J long narrow sectlons on the said film, a

source of light extending lengthwiseo'f the said aperture and gearing for intermittentlymoving the film step by step relatively to the aperture. Preferably each of the long narrow picture or equivalent sections ex-w tends across the film from and to the margins on each side andfour of such long narrow sections occupy the space usually taken up by one of the usual square sections on films as at present used. Where this-arrangement is provided one sprocket tooth opening is providedat each-end of each long narrow picture or equivalent section and the intermittent movement of the film. is obtained through the medium of gearing capable of imparting a step by step movement equal in length to the pitch or distance between adjacent teeth. Such gearing may comprise ratchet and pawl, cam and pin, ec-' centric, worm or worm wheel or equivalent mechanism. In an alternative arrangement,

the long narrow picture or equivalent sections may extend lengthwise ofthe film instead of transversely with two of the dong narrow sections adjoining the margins of the fihn and two intermediate thereof. Where the alternative arrangement is provided in connection with films the projector comprises means ior transversely recipro eating the portion of the film passing through the gate for alternately moving the long. narrow sections 'intoalignment with the exposure aperture, the lengthwise movement of the fihn being effected at the finish of the exposure of each succeeding set of four long narrow sections. The means for moving the film transversely step by, step may consist of frames capable of carrying the sprocket wheels and adapted to be moved lengthwise of spindles on which they are mounted, the step by step movement of the frames being obt'ained by a series of arms on each of the frames and two series;

the margins while the film is moved lengthwise a distance equal to four sprocket teeth openings at the end of the exposure of four lon narrow sections. The projector is pre erably provided with a series of rollers on which the endless band of film is arranged one of such rollers being carried on a spring or weight controlled arm for holding the film band taut, while the gearing is preferably driven through the medium of an electric motor, the supports for the film band, the motor and other parts of the projector being suitablg arranged in a case ca pable of enclosing t same and serving as a means for holdin and transporting the same and constitutinga self conta ned apposes and is capable of being disposed on a.

suitable supportfor the projection of advertisements and other matter on to a shop window, shop blind, boarding or the equiv- 2'0 riods of time.

alent thereof suitable for the purpose. One or both sides of the case is or are constituted of doors capable of being opened to afford ready access to the whole of the interior and facilitate the introduction and removal of endless films, the latter being produced by photographic, lithographic or other formsof printing. If desired, the projector ap-- paratus maybe provided with a clock driven switch or the equivalent thereof to enable the same to be brought into and put out of use automatically for predetermined pe- Such switch may also be capable of operation by hand for controlling the operation and use of the projector ap" paratus. V

In ord'er that the said invention may be clearly'understood and readily'carried into effect, the same will now be fully described by way'of example with reference to th accompanying drawings, inwhich:--

Figure 1 s a side elevation of one side of acinematograph projector constructed ac-'.

cording to this invention, the side of the case being removed to clearl illustrate the mechanism on this side of t e projector. V

Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1 of part of the op ositeside of the projector. Figure 3- is a ron't view of the projector shewn in Figures 1 and 2 with the case broken away. e

Figure 4 illustrates a portion of a film capable of 'being used with the projector shewn in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Figure 5 is a perspective view to a reduced scale illustrating the projector as a whole. l

The continuous film a is arranged on a series of supports -or rollers b and is capable of being moved lengthtvisethrough the medium of the feed sprocket wheel a which serves to advance the film towards the film;

gate d and thereby provide a looped portion a which is takenup by the take-up sprocket wheel a? following the intermittent rapid movement of the portion of the film in the film gate d effected by the eccentric e, the rotation of the sprocket wheels 0 and c and of the eccentric 0 being obtained through the medium'of an electric motor 7 and worm and worm wheel gear f serving to drive a shaft 9 provided with worms g for imparting mot'on' to the worm wheels 0 and e The fil gate d is provided with the long 'narrowvexposure aperture k which is disposed between the film a and an optical condenser jv arranged intermediate of the said aperture h and an electric lamp 7c. The latter is so disposed relatively to the aperture k that'the lamp filament extends lengthwise thereof, being thus arranged toevenly illuminate the whole of the portion of the film q,-tha't is one picture or equivalent section a disposed opposite the aperture h for enabling the same tobe projected on to a screen (not shewn) with an equal illumination over the whole of the area" of the projected picture or its equivalent. The projection of the latter is effected in the usual manner by an objective Z between which and the film a is disposed the known form of rotary shutter m driven from the aforesaid shaft g through the me- The spindle 6 about which the eccentric e is rotated is fitted with a flywheel e? for obtaining a smooth and regular operation of the eccentric. The whole of the mechanism is mounted on a plate n with cut out portions n and nirespectively serving for .the accommodation of the rotary shutter m equal in depth to one fourth of the usual section, and opposite the ends of each such long narrow sections are formed the sprocket dium of the worm g and worm wheel m The film a is provided with the teeth openings a for engagement with the.

teeth 0 of the sprocket wheels 0 and 0 each of which 'is preferably provided with sixteen teeth and are rotated one sixteenth of a revolution for each picture or uivalent 'section exhibited. The complete fi m band .a is arranged on the rollers 22 and b and the sprocket wheels c-and c and eccentric 6 with a portion in the film gated as shewn in Figure l'through the medium of a case 0 as shewn in Figure 5, which is provided with doors 0 forming the complete side'ofu thecase to facilitate the introduction and mounting of the film band a the doors 0 being fitted with a suitable fastener 0 The case also serves to enclose the whole of the film band and mechanism and affords a convenient means for transporting the cinematograph, projector as ta whole. To provide for the intermittent or automatic operation of the projector, the plate at is fitted with a clockwork or similar mechanism 7/ having make and break'contact devices 79 and p the device p being rotated by the mechanism and connected with the electric motor f by the electric lead p and the contact plate devices 12 being electrically connected with a suitable electric plug or switch 1) by the separate leads t tures, the combination with a film provided with marginal sprocket-wheel-teeth apertures, and with pictures areas, each of the latter of which extends horizontally the normal picture width of the film from the apertures on one side to those on the opposite side and vertically a fraction of such width, of a cinematograph projector comprising means for moving 'the film lengthwise, a stationary projecting lens of a diameter greater than the width of the picture areas, a stationary film gate with an exposure aperture approximately corresponding in size to that of each picture area of the film, and means for successively illuminating the picture' areas.

2. In the-projection of cincmatograph pictures, the combination with a film provided with marginal sprocketwheel-teeth apertures, and with picture areas, each of the latter of which extends horizontally the normal picture width of the film from the apertures'on one side to those on the opposite side and vertically a fraction of such width, of a cinematograph projector comprising means for moving the film lengthwise, a stationary projecting lens of a diameter 7 greater than the width of the picture areas,

a stationary film gate with an exposure aperture approximately corresponding in size to that of each'picture area and of the film, and an, electric lamp with ahorizontally dis osed filament extending lengthwise of t e exposure aperture for evenly illuminating in successive order the whole of each picture area:

3. Inthe pro ection, of cinematograph tures, the combination with a filmpr'ovided with marginal sprocket-wheel-teeth apertures and with picture areas each of the latter of which extends horizontally the normal picture width of the film from the apertures on one side to those on the opposite side and vertically a fraction of such width, of a cinematograph projector com-,

prising a'series of rollers for supporting an endless film, means for holding the endless film taut on the rollers, worm and worm wheel gearing including a cam mechanism for impartin intermittent -'longitudinal movement to t e film, a rotatable shutter in 'engagement with the gearing, a stationary rejecting lens of a diameter greater'than the width of each of the ictureareas, a

stationary film gate provic ed with an exosure aperture approximately correspondmg in size to that of each picture area of the film, and an electric light with a horizontally disposed filament extending lengthwiseof the said aperture.

I I 4. In the projection of cinematograph pictures, the combination with a film rovided with marginal sprocket-wheel-teet apertures and with picture areas each of the latter of which extends horizontally the normal picture width of the film from-the apertures on one side to those on the opposite side and vertically a fraction of such width, of. a cinematograph-projector com-- mounted on the same side of the plate as the supporting rollers, a rotatable shutter, worm and worm wheel gearing on the opposite side of the plate to that of the supporting rollers for imparting motion to the feed rollers as well as the take-up cam mechanism and shutter, a stationary projecting lens of a diameter greater than thewidth of each of the picture areas, a stationary film gate mounted on the said plate and provided with an exposure aperture approximately equal in size to that of each icture area of the film, an electric light w th a horizontally disposed filament extending lengthwise of the said aperture, and a casing in which is mounted the said plate which separates the easing into two compartments, the sidesof the casing being constituted by doors occupying approximately the entire area thereof.

5. In the projection of cinematogra h pictures as in claim 1, a film providedfwith marginal sprocket-wheel-teeth apertures and with adjo ning picture areas, each of the latter of which are adapted for normal projection and extend horizontally from near the marginal apertures on one side of the film to near those on the opposite side and valso extend vertically a distance which is a fraction of thewidth thereof. 6. In the projection of cinematograph pictures as in claim 1, a cinematograph pro-- jector comprising a fixed projecting lens,

and a stationary film gate with an exposure aperture of greater width than hei ht and of less width than the diameter of t e lens.

, with an exposure aperture of much greater width than height, a projecting lens of larger diameter'than the width of the exposure aperture and disposed with its axial 3 centre coincident with the centre of the aperture and an electric lamp provided with a horizontall disposed filament extending lengthwise o the aperture, 4

' SIDNEY GEORGE'GRIFFITHS. 

